World

Panama Experiences 7.7‑Magnitude Earthquake, Prompting Evacuations and Aftershocks

By list.metadata.agency

Panama was hit by its strongest earthquake in more than seventy years on Friday, causing the evacuation of Tocumen International Airport and prompting people to flee buildings as powerful aftershocks shook the country. The 7.7‑magnitude quake struck Herrera Province, more than 120 miles (193 kilometers) southwest of the Panama Canal, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Early USGS estimates suggest economic losses in the region could exceed $1 billion. The US National Earthquake Information Center noted it was the strongest quake to hit that part of Panama since at least 1951. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 12.6 kilometers. A 6.6‑magnitude aftershock hit west of the initial quake late Friday afternoon, and eight other aftershocks of magnitude 4.8 or higher have been recorded. The first quake was caused by a rupture along a major plate boundary on the Ring of Fire, with a strike‑slip mechanism in which tectonic plates grind past each other horizontally, according to Jonathan Tytell, a geophysicist at the US National Earthquake Information Center. “It was a very messy event, and shallow, which is not good,” Tytell said. “The energy is right there at the surface and it doesn’t really have time or distance to dissipate.” The USGS initially reported an 8.0 magnitude before revising it; Panama’s geological institute reported the quake as 7.2. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of waves of one to three meters (3.3 to 9.8 feet) above tide level along parts of Panama’s coast, but all warnings were lifted by 2:42 p.m. local time. The Panama Canal said operations continued normally, with emergency protocols activated and technical teams inspecting facilities for possible damage. The quake was felt as far away as several Colombian cities, including Medellín, according to local media. In Panama, people evacuated buildings, businesses, schools and homes across several regions, as reported by the local newspaper La Prensa. President José Raúl Mulino said the government was mobilizing personnel, resources and aid for those affected, and ordered ministries and public agencies to respond immediately and take preventive measures. Emergency officials were expected to hold a news conference to provide an update on the impact. Cibeles De Freitas, a communications representative for the local unit of First Quantum Minerals Ltd., described how people stood barefoot or shirtless in the streets as aftershocks continued, noting that many were scared because earthquakes are uncommon in Panama. First Quantum Minerals did not immediately comment on any impact on its partially idled copper mine located about 140 kilometers north of the epicenter. Tocumen International Airport temporarily suspended air operations and evacuated passengers and administrative areas as a precaution while officials assessed safety. Some flights were diverted to Colombia and Costa Rica, according to flight‑tracking website Flightradar. Panama City’s Metro shut down lines 1 and 2 temporarily because of the earthquake. Firefighters reported no deaths or injuries in the immediate aftermath. AES Panama, a unit of AES Corp., the country’s top electricity supplier, said its hydroelectric, gas‑fired and renewable power plants remained operational. Activities at the Trans‑Panama oil pipeline continued normally after the quake, according to its operator. The Friday quake was the latest in a series of seismic events in Latin America. Venezuela was struck by twin earthquakes in late June that killed nearly 6,500 people and caused widespread destruction along its northern coast. In Colombia, an August 10 quake killed more than 330 and prompted an economic emergency as damage was estimated at roughly $10 billion. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella expressed solidarity with Panama and offered assistance, stating, “Panama is not alone,” in a post on X, adding that Colombia was ready to provide whatever assistance was needed.